Removable, snap-on saddle and tap for irrigation pipes
A saddle and tap for lawn and similar irrigation systems. The saddle includes a base portion that snaps on the delivery pipe of the system and a pair of threaded, upright portions that extend upwardly from it. The tap includes a piercing member, barrel section, and threaded annular nut. In operation, the barrel section helps to guide the threaded upright portions of the saddle into the threaded annular nut of the tap. Rotation of the nut then advances the piercing member into the pipe. The tap is releasably lockable on the saddle and the piercing member of the tap is provided with holes with radiused or rounded edges to prevent creating undesirable shavings as the tap is advanced through the pipe wall.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of saddles and taps for irrigation pipes.
2. Discussion of the Background
Lawn and similar irrigation systems commonly use flexible main pipes of plastics such as polyethylene. Such flexible main pipes can then be easily tapped along their lengths to create branch lines leading to sprinkler heads and other attachments. Self-tapping arrangements are very popular in this regard wherein a saddle is typically mounted on the pipe and a tap is advanced relative to the saddle to pierce the pipe. The tap remains in place on the saddle and the sprinkler head or other attachment is then connected to it.
Current self-tapping arrangements commonly have relatively complicated saddles with hinged or pivoted pieces that must be positioned about the pipe and then secured together. Still other saddles have pieces that must be axially slid relative to each other into engagement. Such hinged and sliding engagements in certain circumstances may be cumbersome to accomplish in the field and may be prone to coming undone.
Several self-tapping arrangements also have structures for locking the tap in place on the saddle once the pipe is pierced. These are desirable because the tap will then not be unscrewed from the saddle when the sprinkler head or other attachment is rotatably adjusted or replaced. In particular, sprinkler heads are normally screwed into tight engagement with the tap or a nipple on the tap and subsequently aimed as desired to an area of the lawn. However, if the sprinkler head later needs adjustment and is rotated to do so, such rotation may also undesirably rotate and loosen the tap from the saddle if the tap is not locked in place. If the head or other attachment needs to be totally removed to be cleaned or replaced and is unscrewed to do so, it can similarly loosen and completely remove the tap with it. Consequently, it is desirable to be able to lock the tap in place on the saddle. Unfortunately, known arrangements that currently lock the tap in place on the saddle are not releasable. Therefore, if the situation arises that it is necessary or desirable to remove the tap to replace or clean it, the locking mechanism must be physically broken or otherwise destroyed to do so and the tap and saddle cannot be reused.
With this and other problems in mind, the present invention was developed. In it, a resilient, one-piece saddle is provided that can be easily snapped on the pipe. A tap is also provided that can be releasably locked on the saddle so the saddle and tap can be removed and reused as desired. Other desirable features are additionally included in the saddle and tap arrangement of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention involves a saddle and tap for lawn and similar irrigation systems. The saddle preferably is of one-piece design and includes a base portion that snaps on the delivery pipe of the system and a pair of threaded, upright portions that extend upwardly from it. The tap includes a piercing member, barrel section, and threaded annular nut. In operation, the barrel section of the tap helps to guide the threaded upright portions of the saddle into the threaded annular nut of the tap. Rotation of the nut then advances the piercing member into the pipe.
The tap is releasably lockable on the saddle and can be easily and quickly removed from the saddle without damaging any its parts or any parts of the saddle. The tap can then be cleaned if needed or replaced if damaged. Additionally, the saddle can also be quickly and easily removed from the pipe if desired and the removed saddle and tap combination reused. The piercing member of the tap is also provided with holes at its tip section wherein the holes have rounded or radiused edges. In operation, the rounded edges prevent or at least substantially reduce the creation of any undesirable shavings as the piercing tip section and holes are advanced through the pipe wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The pipe saddle 1 and tap 2 of the present invention are illustrated in
Referring first to the saddle 1 of the present invention and as shown in the exploded view of
In the relaxed or unflexed position of the saddle 1 in
In use as illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the inner surface 13 of the base portion 11 (see again
As illustrated in
In operation, the tap 2 of
In this position of
As the tap 2 is initially aligned (see
Consequently, as the piercing member 4 is advanced toward the upright saddle portions 25 from
In the illustrated embodiment of
Another feature of the self-tapping combination of the saddle 1 and tap 2 of the present invention is that it includes an arrangement to releasably lock the tap 2 on the saddle 1. The tap 2 can then be positively locked in place in the preferred piercing position of
More specifically, the saddle 1 (see
In this manner and as the piercing member 4 of the tap 2 is further rotated and advanced toward the saddle base portion 11 and through the pipe wall to the position of
In the illustrated embodiment of
The flexing of the latch 41 also permits the tap 2 to be easily and quickly removed from the saddle 1 without damaging any of the parts. As illustrated in
The above disclosure sets forth a number of embodiments of the present invention described in detail with respect to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in this art will appreciate that various changes, modifications, other structural arrangements, and other embodiments could be practiced under the teachings of the present invention without departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A snap-on, resilient, one-piece pipe saddle (1) for mounting on a pipe, said saddle including:
- a base portion (11) with inner and outer surfaces (13,15) extending along and about a first axis (17), said base portion having a split (19) between the inner and outer surfaces extending along a second axis (21) spaced from and substantially parallel to said first axis (17) to form border surfaces (23) respectively extending between said inner and outer surfaces on either side of the split,
- said saddle further including at least two upright portions (25) extending outwardly from said base portion (11) on respective sides of said split (19), said upright portions extending substantially about a third axis (27) substantially perpendicular to said first axis (17),
- said resilient saddle in a relaxed position having the two border surfaces (23) of said base portion (11) substantially abutting one another and said respective upright portions (25) substantially abutting one another wherein said pipe can be passed between said upright portions (25) toward said base portion (11) to move said upright portions (25) apart from one another about said first axis (17) and said border surfaces (23) of said base portion (11) apart from one another about said first axis (17) to an open position ready to receive the pipe in said base portion (11) with said flexed, resilient saddle thereafter snapping back toward said relaxed position with said pipe received in said base portion (11) to mount said saddle on the pipe.
2. The saddle of claim 1 wherein said upright portions (25) with said saddle in said relaxed position have border surfaces (33) inclined to said third axis and extending outwardly of each other to form a substantially V-shape, said pipe being passed between said border surfaces (33) forming said V-shape to initiate the moving of the upright portions (25) and border surfaces (23) of the base portion (11) apart from one another and moving said saddle toward said open position.
3. The saddle of claim 2 wherein each border surface (33) of said upright portions (25) is inclined to said third axis (27) at an acute angle.
4. The saddle of claim 3 wherein said acute angle is about 20 degrees.
5. The saddle of claim 2 wherein said upright portions (25) have additional border surfaces (31) substantially abutting one another and extending substantially parallel to said third axis (27) with said saddle in said relaxed position, said inclined border surfaces (33) extending above said additional border surfaces (31) to form said substantially V-shape.
6. The saddle of claim 1 wherein the border surfaces (23) of said base portion (11) are substantially parallel to each other when said saddle is in said relaxed position.
7. The saddle of claim 1 wherein the border surfaces (23) of said upright portions (25) are substantially parallel to each other when said saddle is in said relaxed position.
8. The saddle of claim 1 wherein the inner surface (13) of said base portion (11) in the relaxed position of said saddle is substantially elliptical.
9. The saddle of claim 1 further including a tap (2) having a piercing member (4), said pipe having a wall with inner and outer surfaces, said tap being mountable for rotation about said third axis (27) relative to the saddle on the pipe to advance the piercing member (4) toward the base portion (11) of the saddle and through the wall of said pipe.
10. The saddle of claim 9 further including an arrangement for releasably locking said tap on said saddle.
11. The saddle of claim 10 wherein said arrangement includes at least one latch (41) mounted on said saddle to releasably engage said tap.
12. The saddle of claim 9 further including an arrangement for releasably locking said tap on said saddle in a locked position with the piercing member (4) passing through the wall of the pipe, said tap being releasable from said locked position and rotatable about said third axis (27) relative to said saddle to withdraw said tap from the saddle.
13. The saddle of claim 9 wherein said upright portions (25) have exterior, substantially helical threads therealong and said tap further includes a substantially annular nut (8) with inner (8′) and outer (12) surfaces extending along said third axis, the inner surface (8′) of said nut having substantially helical thread matable with the exterior threads of said upright potions (25).
14. The saddle of claim 13 wherein the inner surface (8′) of said nut extends about said third axis at a first distance and said tap further includes a barrel section (6) with an outer surface (6′) extending along and about said third axis at a distance less than said first distance to create a space between the outer barrel surface (6′) and the inner nut surface (8′), said upright portions (25) being receivable in said space with said respective threads mating.
15. The saddle of claim 14 wherein said upright portions (25) have inner (25′) and outer (25″) surfaces spaced a first distance apart and the inner surface (8′) of said nut is spaced from the outer surface (6) of said barrel section substantially the same distance as said first distance between the inner and outer surfaces (25′,25″) of said upright portions (25) to thereby receive the upright portions in the space therebetween.
16. The saddle of claim 15 wherein the inner surface (8′) of said nut extends to a first location (L′) along said third axis and the outer surface (6′) of said barrel section extends to a second location (L) along said third axis spaced from said first location toward said piercing member (4) wherein the outer barrel surface (6′) first contacts the inner surface (25′) of each upright portion as said tap is advanced to thereby guide said upright portions (25) into the space between the outer barrel surface (6′) and the inner nut surface (8′).
17. The saddle of claim 9 wherein said piercing member (4) is hollow and includes a tip section (16) with at least two holes (14) therethrough in fluid communication with the interior of said hollow piercing member (4), said holes being defined at least in part by edges (14′) extending substantially along said third axis (27), said tip section (16) and holes (14)′ including said edges (14′) thereof being advanced through the wall of said pipe to establish fluid communicate through said holes between the interior of the pipe and the interior of the hollow piercing member wherein said edges are rounded to substantially prevent creating shavings from said pipe as said tip section and the edges of the holes are rotated and advanced through the wall of said pipe.
18. A removable tap and saddle combination,
- said saddle including a base portion removably mountable on a pipe having a wall with inner and surfaces, said saddle further including a hollow section mounted to said base portion and extending outwardly thereof,
- said tap having a piercing member with a hollow interior, said tap being mountable for rotation in a first direction about an axis relative to said saddle and pipe to advance the piercing member toward the base portion of said saddle and through the wall of said pipe,
- said combination further including an arrangement to releasably lock said tap on said saddle in a first, locked position with the piercing member passing through the wall of said pipe.
19. The combination of claim 18 wherein said arrangement includes at least one latch (41) mounted on said saddle to releasably engage said tap in said first, locked position.
20. The combination of claim 19 wherein said tap includes an outer surface (2′) extending about and along said axis (27), said outer surface (2′) having at least one recess (51) therein to receive said latch and lock said tap in said first, locked position.
21. The combination of claim 20 wherein said recess (51) is defined in part by a wall (53) extending along said axis (27) and substantially radially outwardly of said axis, said latch abutting said wall with said tap in said first, locked position to prevent rotation of said tap about said axis in a direction opposite to said first direction.
22. The combination of claim 21 wherein said latch (41) is mounted for movement toward and away from said axis (27) wherein said latch can be manually moved away from said axis and abutment with said wall (53) to permit said tap to be rotated in said direction opposite said first direction to withdraw said tap from the saddle.
23. The combination of claim 21 wherein said latch is biased toward said first, locked position.
24. The combination of claim 21 wherein said recess wall (53) has a top and bottom with the bottom being spaced closer to said axis (27) than the top, said recess being further defined in part by a substantially spiral surface (55) moving outwardly from the bottom of said wall about said axis in a direction opposite said first direction.
25. The combination of claim 24 wherein the outer surface (2′) of said tap includes at least a second recess with a wall and spiral surface wherein said latch is selectively, releasably engagable in the second recess to lock said tap in a second, locked position on said saddle, said second locked position being spaced from said first locked position about said axis.
26. The combination of claim 18 wherein said hollow section of said saddle includes at least two upright portions (25) extending about and along said axis (27).
27. A pipe saddle and tap combination,
- said saddle (1) including a base portion (11) with inner (13) and outer (15) surfaces extending along and about a first axis (17), said base portion having a split (19) between the inner and outer surfaces extending along a second axis (21) spaced from and substantially parallel to said first axis (17) to form border surfaces (23) respectively extending between said inner (13) and outer (15) surfaces on either side of the split (19),
- said saddle (1) further including at least two upright portions (25) extending outwardly from said base portion (11) on respective sides of said split (19), said upright portions extending along and substantially about a third axis (27), said third axis (27) being substantially perpendicular to said first axis (17) and said upright portions (25) having exterior threads therealong,
- said tap (2) including a hollow barrel section (6) with outer and inner surfaces (6′,10) extending about and along an axis and a piercing member (4) extending from said barrel section (6) along said tap axis, said tap further including a substantially annular nut (8) with inner and outer surfaces (8′,12) extending along and about said tap axis, the inner surface (8′) of said nut being spaced outwardly of the outer surface (6′) of said barrel section and having interior threads therealong to mate with the exterior threads of said upright portions (25), said upright portions being receivable between the inner surface (8′) of said nut and the outer surface (6′) of said barrel section with said third (27) and tap axes aligned wherein rotation of said nut (8) about said aligned axes will engage said mating threads and advance the piercing member (4) toward the base portion (11) of said saddle (1).
28. The combination of claim 27 wherein the inner surface (8′) of said nut is spaced from the outer surface (6′) of said barrel section substantially the same distance as the distance between the inner and outer surfaces (25′,25″) of said upright portions (25).
29. The combination of claim 28 wherein the inner surface (8′) of said nut extends to a first location (L′) along said tap axis and the outer surface (6′) of said barrel section extends to a second location (L) along said tap axis spaced from said first location (L′) toward said piercing member (4) wherein the outer barrel surface (6′) first contacts the inner surface (25′) of each upright portion as said tap is moved toward said saddle to guide said upright portions (25) into the space between the outer surface (6′) of the barrel section and the inner surface (8′) of said nut.
30. The combination of claim 27 wherein the inner surface (8′) of said nut extends to a first location along said tap axis and the outer surface of said barrel section extends to a second location along said tap axis spaced from said first location toward said piercing member wherein the outer surface of said barrel section first contacts the inner surface of each upright portion as said tap is moved toward said saddle to guide said upright portions into contact with the outer surface of the barrel section.
31. A tap for a pipe saddle mounted on a pipe having a wall with outer and inner surfaces, said tap including a hollow piercing member (4) with a tip section (16) extending substantially along an axis, said tip section having at least one hole (14) therethrough in fluid communication with the interior of said hollow piercing member, said hole being defined at least in part by an edge (14′) extending substantially along said axis, said tap being mountable to said saddle for rotation relative to said saddle and pipe to advance the tip section including the hole and edge thereof through the outer and inner surfaces of said pipe wall to establish fluid communication through said hole between the interior of the pipe and interior of the hollow piercing member wherein said edge of said hole is rounded to substantially prevent creating shavings from said pipe as said tip section and the edge of said hole are rotated and advanced through the wall of said pipe.
32. The tap of claim 31 wherein said edge (14′) is a leading edge as the tip section (16) is rotated and advanced through the wall of said pipe.
33. The tap of claim 31 wherein said tip section includes at least a second hole defined in part by a rounded edge extending substantially along said axis.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 27, 2004
Publication Date: Mar 30, 2006
Patent Grant number: 7150289
Inventor: Mark Mortensen (Wheatridge, CO)
Application Number: 10/950,080
International Classification: F16L 41/12 (20060101);